The vigil, “Let Peace Shine,” was put together by the East End Cooperative Ministry in response to high levels of violence both locally and globally. It was not created as a response to anything in particular, but rather a way to call for world, national, state, city, neighborhood and household peace, organizers said.

“We’re not focusing on any incident, or location or individual,” said EECM Executive Director Michael J. Mingrone.

A candlelight peace vigil is planned in East Liberty next month. As East End Cooperative Ministry Executive Director Michael J. Mingrone imagines it, thousands of people from across faiths and walks of life will line the streets, candles in hand, conveying a message of solidarity for as far as the eye can see.

“We really wanted to focus on the act of peace and how it’s created,” said Mingrone. “The concept is we create peace within ourselves and our homes and then it gets shared throughout our community, to our country, to the world.”

It might come as no surprise that area food banks say they see an influx in people donating their time, money or groceries during the holiday season, but what many do not realize is that the giving spirit seems to hit a lull after the New Year.

“Member congregations are doing food drives … so we do see an influx (in donations) but the need also is increased this time of the year. It’s actually ever present throughout the year,” said East End Cooperative Ministry Executive Director Michael J. Mingrone.

EECM serves 500 families a month out of its pantry. With weather changes and added expenses in heating bills, families’ available cash often decreases. In turn, there is an increase in demand in the pantry and community kitchen.

More than 1,700 mayors across the country paid homage to volunteers in their cities on Tuesday as part of the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, and Pittsburgh’s Mayor Bill Peduto was no exception.

Peduto spoke to hundreds of volunteers at the East End Cooperative Ministry Tuesday morning, just before the volunteers embarked on a day of community service.

“The East End Cooperative Ministry, which is among the foundation’s beneficiaries, serves more than 100 people a day through its hunger programs, said Carrie Hill, spokeswoman for the East Liberty organization. Last year, that number was 70 to 80.”

For more than four decades, the East End Cooperative Ministry has operated its programs for homeless adults and at-risk youth out of more than two dozen locations at its member congregations.

Starting in November, those programs, founded in 1970, will be housed under one roof at the ministry’s new $15 million Community House along Penn Circle North in East Liberty on what once was a blighted piece of land.

The East End of Pittsburgh has one of the city’s great success stories and now, a new ffacilityhopes to continue that story of success for all the people of that neighborhood.

The East End Cooperative Ministry has moved into its new 56,000 square foot home.

“I think this is the anchor of the social fabric of the economic development of the community. People see East Liberty changing, but what they don’t see is that there are still and will continue to be many people that need services, Executive Director Myrna Zelenitz said.”